Advancing together: How UK-Vietnam cooperation strengthens the ASEAN-UK partnership

British Ambassador Iain Frew. (Photo: Thanh Long)

On his very first day after taking office, the United Kingdom's new Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, chose to attend ASEAN for his first international engagement. Before joining fellow Foreign Ministers at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila, his first bilateral meeting was with Vietnam's Foreign Minister, Le Hoai Trung. Together, they went on to co-chair the ASEAN-UK Post-Ministerial Conference, reflecting the importance of our partnership and Vietnam's role as ASEAN-UK Country Coordinator.

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That first overseas engagement was no coincidence. In an increasingly volatile world, ASEAN provides a trusted and open platform for dialogue. As the UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in Manila, “ASEAN's ability to bring countries together for open and respectful dialogue has never been more important. The UK remains firmly behind ASEAN centrality and the rules-based ASEAN-led regional architecture.” With 11 members, 12 dialogue partners, and many more countries attending ASEAN’s annual fixtures, ASEAN has consistently demonstrated that it can convene countries with different perspectives, maintain channels for cooperation, and promote practical solutions to shared challenges.

This year, the UK and ASEAN celebrate the fifth anniversary of our dialogue partnership by committing to continue advancing together. The UK and ASEAN have completed 99% of our first Plan of Action, agreed on a new set of more focused and ambitious commitments for the next five years, and adopted a joint statement on the Indo-Pacific. The UK has also become the latest member of the ASEAN Regional Forum. Vietnam’s role as country coordinator has been instrumental in getting us to this point. From close consultations to joint projects, Vietnam has helped expand cooperation and keep the partnership in line with regional priorities. We will build on this in the years ahead.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and British Foreign Minister Ed Miliband co-chaired the ASEAN-UK Foreign Ministers' Meeting, in Manila (Philippines), on July 22, 2026.(Photo: Bao Chi)

Five years is not a long time in diplomacy. Yet the ASEAN–UK partnership has already moved beyond establishing itself to delivering real results. UK-ASEAN trade has doubled over the past five years to more than 62 billion £. UK-Vietnam trade has contributed significantly to this growth, nearly doubling to over 10 billion £ by the end of 2025. This growth is coupled with targeted economic cooperation. The ASEAN-UK Economic Integration Programme (EIP) has been supporting regulatory reform, digitalising trade, and promoting inclusive financial services in all ASEAN states.

We are partnering for sustainability, where the UK has helped to advance the ASEAN Power Grid and supported ASEAN’s transition to a clean, climate-resilient economy through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund. On people-to-people links, the UK supports girls’ education, funds graduate education through Chevening and Women in STEM scholarships, bolsters regional health surveillance, and cultivates creative economy cooperation and inclusive growth. These are not isolated initiatives. Together, they strengthen regional resilience, deepen economic integration and create opportunities that benefit both ASEAN and the UK.

We believe that the strongest and most enduring partnerships are those built on shared interest, mutual respect and practical delivery. This is why the UK also supports a secure and stable region, by supporting ASEAN to tackle shared challenges including maritime security, online scams, organised crime and illegal migration, while promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This approach will continue shaping the next chapter of the ASEAN-UK partnership, as Foreign Secretary Miliband emphasised in Manila: “whether on maritime security, energy security, economic resilience or emerging technologies, our future will increasingly be shaped by how we work together multilaterally.”

The 5th ASEAN-UK Joint Cooperation Committee meeting co-chaired by the Vietnamese delegation to ASEAN, as the coordinator of ASEAN-UK relations, co-chaired with the British Delegation to ASEAN, on March 4. (Photo: Bao Chi)

The UK–Vietnam relationship is testament to how strong bilateral ties can strengthen regional partnerships. The upgrade of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last year reflects the breadth and depth of cooperation that our two countries have built over many years across key sectors, including trade, investment, education, climate, security and innovation. This relationship also benefits the wider ASEAN region.

The ASEAN Future Forum is a great example of these efforts. The UK has supported this Vietnam-led initiative since its inception in 2024. Working with the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, we have brought policymakers, experts, young leaders from across ASEAN and dialogue partners together to develop and exchange ideas on this region's future. Seeing increasing value in this platform, the UK and Vietnam stepped up our contribution to supporting ASEAN and UK youths to attend the 2025 and 2026 AFF, where they shared their vision of the future directly with state leaders, officials, businesses, and experts.

Our cooperation in energy security is another strong example. In recent years, global events, from conflicts in the Middle East to volatility in energy markets, have underscored the risks of dependence on imported oil and gas. These pressures are felt across Southeast Asia, affecting everything from electricity generation to transport to food costs. That is why in the UK we are accelerating investment in clean power across this region. In Vietnam, we are working closely together through our co-leadership of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), supporting the country’s ambition to expand renewable energy, unlock investment in offshore wind, and build a cleaner, more resilient energy system for the future.

On March 24, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang, Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam received the British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew to discuss ASEAN-UK cooperation and bilateral relations between Vietnam and the UK. (Photo: Thanh Long)

As this region develops, the challenges we face will become more complex, even as resources remain constrained. This is why the next-generation ASEAN-UK Plan of Action we agreed in July is focused on critical issues which matter to this region, including peace and stability, strengthening economic resilience, accelerating the clean energy transition and harnessing new technologies responsibly. Vietnam’s role is especially important, combining its position as ASEAN-UK Country Coordinator with its fast-growing economic and strategic power in Southeast Asia.

As we mark five years of the ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership, the message is clear. The most successful regional partnerships are built on strong bilateral relationships. And the strongest bilateral relationships flourish within an effective regional framework. That is why the United Kingdom will continue to advance together with ASEAN - and with Vietnam - for many years to come.

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